Foundation calls for reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act

The Fred Hollows Foundation supports calls for the Federal Government to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act immediately, as recommended by a report released today by the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association on the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

“Our view is that the Racial Discrimination Act should be put back in place immediately,” The Foundation’s CEO Brian Doolan said.

“Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have been without the protections enjoyed by other Australians for almost three years.”

“This is an unacceptable situation and, as found in this report, continues to have a negative impact on the wellbeing of Aboriginal people.”

The report, which was partly funded by The Foundation, calls for the Government to reconsider the way it engages with Indigenous people, especially in relation to the Northern Territory Intervention and the loss of Indigenous rights through the removal of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Mr Doolan believes that the findings detailed in the report reaffirm the concerns raised in The Foundation’s submission to the recent Senate Inquiry relating to the evaluation of the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

“This report reinforces the messages that The Foundation has been receiving from Aboriginal people since the beginning of the intervention,” Doolan said.

“The Government should seriously consider the recommendations of this important report and the rigorous assessment of evidence that has led to these findings.”

“The first step is to urgently address the way the Government engages with Indigenous people and work to reset that relationship.”